Psychology: Yesterday and Today
What Is Psychology? Psychology is the science of mental processes and behavior. What is science? What are mental processes? What is behavior? Dog Story-Perception Governed by relationships Psychology is the science of mental processes and behavior. What is science? What are mental processes? What is behavior? Dog Story-Perception Governed by relationships
Levels of Analysis The person The group The brain
History of Psychology
American Functionalism Roots go back to 1870s Chauncy Wright The Metaphysical Club Included very important people in future of American science, philosophy, law and psychology William James Roots go back to 1870s Chauncy Wright The Metaphysical Club Included very important people in future of American science, philosophy, law and psychology William James
Progressives Fabian Socialists Progressives Fabian Socialists
Wilhelm Wundt First institute for experimental psychology Germany First institute for experimental psychology Germany
Evolutionary psychology Evolutionarily successful cognitive strategies and goals survived Cultural universality Human and animal similarities Evolutionary psychology Evolutionarily successful cognitive strategies and goals survived Cultural universality Human and animal similarities
By 1890s, had abandoned biology based psychology of Wundt Adopted Evolutionary Psychology Psychology of the mind Restarting of psychological research based on evolution instead of physiology By 1890s, had abandoned biology based psychology of Wundt Adopted Evolutionary Psychology Psychology of the mind Restarting of psychological research based on evolution instead of physiology
“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007 James Cattell
“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007
US undergoing civil strife
“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007
“That way leads to extinction.”
“ Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2007
Premature to apply psychology to real world applications Keep psychology pure Started structuralism Premature to apply psychology to real world applications Keep psychology pure Started structuralism Wundt’s disciple Edward Bradford Titchner
Structuralism Focused on identifying the “building blocks” of consciousness Sensations and images of feeling Measure of time it takes to feel Introspection: Looking within Not objectively verifiable More expertise, less introspection Main contribution=Psychology is a science Dismissed all other psychology as “functionalism” Structuralism Focused on identifying the “building blocks” of consciousness Sensations and images of feeling Measure of time it takes to feel Introspection: Looking within Not objectively verifiable More expertise, less introspection Main contribution=Psychology is a science Dismissed all other psychology as “functionalism” Some History
Functionalism--the Why of thinking Influenced by Charles Darwin Studied how thinking helped an individual survive and adapt to an environment Animal observations provide clues for human behavior Focused on social issues such as improving education Functionalism--the Why of thinking Influenced by Charles Darwin Studied how thinking helped an individual survive and adapt to an environment Animal observations provide clues for human behavior Focused on social issues such as improving education
Gestalt Psychology Focused on consciousness and principles of perceptual organization Overall patterns of thought Gestalt Psychology Focused on consciousness and principles of perceptual organization Overall patterns of thought
Thoughts come from what we perceive in certain ways The whole is greater than the sum of its parts
Psychodynamic Theory Sigmund Freud The mind has separate components Conscious and unconscious components Much of behavior in influenced by the unconscious Desires vs. social rules Psychoanalysis Psychodynamic Theory Sigmund Freud The mind has separate components Conscious and unconscious components Much of behavior in influenced by the unconscious Desires vs. social rules Psychoanalysis
Reaction to study of hidden unconscious Behaviorism Reaction to focus on unconscious The mind cannot be observed Behavior can be observed Science should study the observable, not emotion Behaviorism Reaction to focus on unconscious The mind cannot be observed Behavior can be observed Science should study the observable, not emotion
The Evolution of a Science Humanistic Psychology Carl Rogers & Abraham Maslow “Client”-centered therapy We strive for self-actualization Humanistic Psychology Carl Rogers & Abraham Maslow “Client”-centered therapy We strive for self-actualization
The Cognitive Revolution Focus on mental processes (information processing) Computer metaphor Showed importance of studying the unobservable The Cognitive Revolution Focus on mental processes (information processing) Computer metaphor Showed importance of studying the unobservable
Psychotherapy Psychologist vs. Psychiatrist Psychotherapist Psychologist vs. Psychiatrist Psychotherapist
Academic Psychologists Teach classes Conduct research Main Types: Clinical Cognitive Developmental Social Physiological Academic Psychologists Teach classes Conduct research Main Types: Clinical Cognitive Developmental Social Physiological
Applied Psychologists Solve problems in practical areas Main Types: Human factors Industrial/organizational Personality Social Sport School Applied Psychologists Solve problems in practical areas Main Types: Human factors Industrial/organizational Personality Social Sport School
Ethics in Research Institutional Review Board (IRB) Research with people Informed consent Avoid deception unless necessary Debriefing Research with animals Avoid mistreatment Proper housing Institutional Review Board (IRB) Research with people Informed consent Avoid deception unless necessary Debriefing Research with animals Avoid mistreatment Proper housing